South American Architecture – Buildings

South American Architecture : Buildings

Key Contemporary Architectural Developments

Architecture in South America

We’ve selected what we feel are the key examples of South American Architecture. We aim to include interesting South American buildings / projects. We cover completed South American buildings, new building designs and architectural exhibitions. We also post architecture competitions across South America.

We would argue that the strongest recent architecture in South America – Modern and contemporary – can be found in Brazil, though Chile also has a strong tradition relative to its smaller population. Famous South American architects include Oscar Niemeyer and Lina Bo Bardi (actually Italian) who produced celebrated Modernist architecture.

More recently architecture studios such as Marcio Kogan (studio mk.27) in Brazil and Sebastián Irarrázaval in Chile have ensured South American architecture remains in a global spotlight. Another major design studio is Enrique Browne Arquitectos in Chile and in Argentina Andrés Remy Arquitectos has produced a string of good contemporary buildings.

South American Building News

Cotacachi House, Imbabura, northern EcuadorDesign: arquitectura xphoto : Sebastian CrespoCotacachi House – 4 Apr 2013
A couple from the Caribbean seek retreat amid the northern Andes in a small town, two hours north of Quito, an orchard site in a valley 2470 meters above sea level, between the Imbabura and Cotacachi mountains, to the east and west respectively. The couple needs a design proposal in 4 days before going home, or they will sell the site: we have to design a house without knowing the site and after meeting the couple for two hours.

Casa Varanda, BrazilDesign: Carla Juaçabaphoto : Fran ParenteCasa Varanda – 4 Apr 2013
A house made for the granddaughter of great architect Sergio Bernardes and a Colombian artist was a challenge. At first they wanted the house to have caracteristics of Casa Lota made by his grandfather in 1950, from wich we kept some materials such as the ceiling. The development of the project was very interactive.

Casa Agua, New Residence in Buenos AiresDesign: Barrionuevo Sierchuk Arquitectasphoto from architectsNew House in Argentina – 19 Mar 2013
The site is 2,000 sqm, in the suburbs of Buenos Aires. It has 450 sqm and it is designed for a couple without kids, with, in the ground floor, a program of very large reception areas, that open and closes by very big wooden sliding doors that hide into the walls.

Studio R, São Paulo, BrasilDesign: studio mk27 – Marcio Kogan with Gabriel Kogan + Oswaldo Pessanophotograph : Fernando GuerraStudio R São Paulo – 18 Jan 2013
Facing a small urban square, the Loft Studio opens entirely to the outside. The inner space of this photography studio flows into the side gardens of the building and into the urban space, establishing a spatial continuity between the square and the building.

Alejandra House, Rosario, ArgentinaDesign: CEKADA-ROMANOS arquitectosphoto : Walter SalcedoHouse in northern Argentina – 14 Jan 2013
The design strategy by the architects seeks “a compact country house, located on the south side of the lot in order to capture sunlight and to open a large garden area. The shape is the result of a volume subjected to cuts and operations of subtraction. The geometry is defined by orientations, desired visuals and daylight”.

Bicentennial Civic Center in Córdoba, ArgentinaDesign: GGMPU Arquitectos + Lucio Moriniphoto : Claudio ManzoniBicentennial Civic Center in Córdoba – 5 Dec 2012
The Bicentennial Civic Center will be the first administrative complex to have been designed specifically for that end by the Province of Córdoba, Argentina. It is located on the edge of the historic center of the city. One of its sides, measuring more than 700m, was adjacent to the River Suquia, and constituted a physical barrier drastically separating the neighborhoods on both sides of the river.

Algarrobos House, Puembo, EcuadorJosé María Sáez + Daniel Moreno Floresphoto : Sebastian CrespoAlgarrobos House – 3 Dec 2012
Eight identical steel members, 18 meters long, placed along the x y z axis, confine the space for the house and at the same time open it as they project in different directions. They are abstract beams that are oriented looking for their relationship with the surroundings.

Casa Carrara, Buenos Aires, ArgentinaAndrés Remy Arquitectosphoto : Alejandro PeralCasa Carrara – 19 Nov 2012
Located on an irregular lot, the house sits at the back of the lot and is parallel to one of the streets to open the best orientation and capture the best views. The idea of this journey was to discover the entrance as we follow the exterior stone wall. The rustic and crafted stone defines and separates the entry zones from the living spaces and is inside and outside, proposing a counterpoint to the pure white that dominates the inside of the house.

South American Architecture

Individual Buildings in South America : Major Architecture Projects, alphabetical: